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Softball: New coach's objective to sustain success

Jordan was hired this week as the new head coach of the Brainerd Warriors softball team. He replaces Mike Zauhar, who resigned after the 2014 season.

The 39-year-old Jordan assumes the reigns of a program that attained unprecedented heights during Zauhar's tenure. In Zauhar's 14 seasons, the Warriors won 254 of 331 games (.767), captured six Central Lakes Conference championships and two Section 8-3A titles. They played in five section final series and made three trips to the 3A state tournament (2002, 2010, 2011).

"There are a lot of great players in our program," Jordan said. "Now I have to keep the train rolling, gain the trust of my players through relationship-building, showing them that I care about them, that I know the game and have a passion for softball and that I'm willing to learn and I'm willing to get better myself and that I expect the same from them."

This spring, Jordan completed his 15th season in the Warrior softball program. In all but one of those years he has been the head freshmen coach.

Jordan, who teaches sixth grade language arts and social studies at Forestview Middle School in Baxter, said he wanted the head job because "I love fast-pitch softball. I love working with kids, that's why I'm a teacher. We can create life-long relationships through the fun game of softball."

Jordan is also an assistant football coach at Central Lakes College and an assistant coach in the Warrior girls basketball program.

"Shane brings a wealth of experience to the Warrior softball program," Warriors activities director Charlie Campbell said. "He has coached a variety of sports from youth to collegiate levels. The interview team and his supervisors have been and are impressed by his body of work. We are confident coach Jordan will continue the success of the Warrior softball program."

Jordan thanked his wife, Amy, and their family, for allowing him to take on the responsibilities of being a head coach.

"I also want to thank Charlie Campbell for giving me this opportunity," Jordan added. "I also want to thank coach Zauhar. He has been tremendously supportive in all my years coaching for him and for the program he helped build.

"When people watch us play, whether they're from other teams or players in this town, when they leave the field I want them to say. 'That looks like a lot of fun,' and that's my goal. If you're not having fun playing a game, we're doing something wrong.

"I also hope players walk away saying 'I want to play for that guy, and I want to play that game because it looks like a lot of fun.'"